Hare today — Snowshoe hares on the rise, predators not far behind

By Jenny Neyman
Redoubt Reporter
Heather Sinclair and Lily Lewis crouched on the ground in the woods off Funny River Road on Aug. 17, meticulously hunting through a square meter of grass, leaf debris, twigs and other forest detritus for their quarry — brown, dry, round, about the size of a pencil eraser and a bellwether of [...]

Wicked burn — Car theft, arson leaves owner feeling singed

By Jenny Neyman
Redoubt Reporter
Paul Wright was getting ready to leave for work Aug. 14 at his home on Ruby Circle, off Gaswell Road, when he got a confusing phone call from Alaska State Troopers.
“They said, ‘There’s a vehicle registered in your name that is currently on fire in Nikiski,’” Wright said.
Wright thought it must be [...]

Weighty words — Weight Watchers coordinator retires, leaves healthy example as legacy

By Jenny Neyman
Redoubt Reporter
To look at Sharon Radtke, of Soldotna, tall, thin and healthy, one wouldn’t expect she has been a devotee of Weight Watchers for more than 30 years.
That’s the whole point.
“People say, ‘Look at you, you don’t need to be on Weight Watchers.’ My response is, ‘I don’t need to be on the [...]

Pretty paddle — Kayaking brings flora, fauna into close-up view

Patrice Kohl
Redoubt Reporter
With so much to do during summer in Alaska, it can be hard to settle on any one activity when the weekend arrives. But with a nine-mile water taxi ride across Kachemak Bay and a kayak, an outdoors enthusiast can easily roll many activities into one weekend.
Tutka Bay, a long side pocket off [...]

Common Ground: Gulls test patience for good, clean outdoor fun

By Christine Cunningham, for the Redoubt Reporter
I was standing at the ruins of a duck blind that had been abandoned for the past few seasons. It would take some work, but the frame was there, and it could be made workable in a few afternoons. The thing about blinds is they’re much like backyard tree [...]

Science of the Seasons: Suffering survival — Fish ‘ick’ part of the salmon life cycle

By David Wartinbee, for the Redoubt Reporter
Salmon spawning is going on everywhere you look in the Kenai River these days. Along with the spawners can be seen those that have already completed their reproductive duties and are awaiting the next phase of the salmon life cycle — death.
When salmon begin their spawning activities, they are [...]

Solo harmony — Evans takes collaborative style off on her own path

By Jenny Neyman
Redoubt Reporter
Plucking Katie Evans out of the crescendoing peal of central Kenai Peninsula musicians is a difficult task. Even at 23, she carries a strong tune in her own right, with how much she’s performed, composed and contributed to the local music scene since moving back here in 2006. But it’s nearly impossible [...]

Art Seen: Learned response — KPC faculty bring individual approaches to art exhibition

By Zirrus VanDevere, for the Redoubt Reporter
Kenai Peninsula College has a few new teachers included in this year’s faculty exhibit, running now at the Gary L. Freeburg Gallery at KPC’s Kenai River Campus. Overall, it is a conservative exhibit, but certainly proficient and discipline-based.
The first images that grab my attention are two large works by [...]

Stamped in honor — Soldotna library bears name of slain resident

Editor’s note: Following is part two of the histories behind some common central peninsula sites, this week covering the area from Soldotna and Sterling to Nikiski. Part three will focus mainly on the area east of Sterling to Cooper Landing.
By Clark Fair
Redoubt Reporter
When the news reached Soldotna, the shock reverberated throughout the small community. [...]

Plugged In: Personal perspectives — Make use of photography’s unique strengths to capture true art of medium

By Joseph Kashi, for the Redoubt Reporter
I seem to recall promising not to write anything about art and aesthetics when I first started this series of photo articles. That was a rash promise and, therefore, subject to renegotiation.
Fear not, though, hardcore hardware fans. At the end of this week’s article, I’ll discuss some of this [...]

Kasilof conundrum — Beach suffers from lack of resources, regulatory confusion

By Jenny Neyman
Redoubt Reporter
At the mouth of the Kasilof River during the summer personal-use setnet and dipnet salmon fisheries, finding something to complain about is easy enough — garbage strewn across the beach; people pitching tents, parking and lighting campfires on private property; and trucks and four-wheelers tearing up the fragile beach grass that holds the [...]

Weaving traditions — Net menders use old skill to meet new demands

Patrice Kohl
Redoubt Reporter
Brian Mahan understands the many menaces that can undermine the integrity of a fish net. He has seen a setnet shredded by coal deposits and rocks, or weakened with holes from hurried deckhands ripping holes to free fish. And he has seen the delicate webbing of a driftnet rendered useless after an encounter [...]